Conditioner mounting for a windrower

ABSTRACT

A conditioning unit adapted for mounting beneath the main frame of a windrower having a front mounted header pivotally connected thereto by a lift mechanism including a pair of laterally spaced lower lift arms. The conditioning unit is pivotally mounted about the rear thereof to the main frame of the windrower and includes a pair of rollers rotatively mounted about front outside portions, the rollers being laterally spaced and adapted to rest upon the lower left arms such that the conditioning unit moves proportionally to the movement of the header.

United States Patent Koch et al.

[ Oct. 24, 1972 [54] CONDITIONER MOUNTING FOR A WINDROWER [72]Inventors: Earl E. Koch, Mohnton, Pa.; Joe E.

Shrlver, Lebanon, Ohio [73] Assignee: Sperry Rand Corporation, NewHolland, Pa.

[22] Filed: May 28, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 148,044

[52] U.S. Cl ..S6/15.8, 56/D1G. 1

[51] Int. Cl. ..A0ld 47/00 [58] Field oiSearch ..56/D1G. 1, 10.2, 10.4,14.4, 56/ 15.8

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,306,014 2/1967 Halls eta]. ..56/DlG. l X 3,473,305 10/1969 Cyr ..56/D1G. 1 X

Primary Examiner-Louis G. Mancene Assistant Examiner-J. N. EskovitzAuomeyJohn C. Thompson, Joseph A. Brown, George C. Bower, Larry L. Coatsand James J. Kennecly [57] ABSTRACT A conditioning unit adapted formounting beneath the main frame of a windrower having a front mountedheader pivotally connected thereto by a lift mechanism including a pairof laterally spaced lower lift arms. The conditioning unit is pivotallymounted about the rear thereof to the main frame of the windrower andincludes a pair of rollers rotatively mounted about front outsideportions, the rollers being laterally spaced and adapted to rest uponthe lower left arms such that the conditioning unit moves proportionallyto the movement of the header.

9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDUET 24 I972 SHEET 1 [IF 4 INVENTOR.

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sum u or 4 JNVENTOR. E RRL KOCH JOE E- SHRIVA'R f ggf HITORNEY 1CONDITIONER MOUNTING FOR A WINDROWER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Thisinvention relates to agricultural machinery and more particularly to awindrowing device having crop conditioning means attached thereto.

A windrower is an agricultural machine having a main frame with a headerpivotally supported forwardly thereof by a lift mechanism. The headernormally comprises a reel, a cutting mechanism, a centrally disposeddischarge opening and an auger spaced rearwardly of the reel and cuttingmechanism and adapted to consolidate the crop inwardly toward thedischarge opening where the cut crop material is deposited on the groundin a windrow. Most lift mechanisms connecting the main frame of thewindrower and the header are provided with means to allow the header tofloat as it moves over undulations in the ground.

In some types of crops it becomes desireable to condition the crop as itis deposited in the windrow. To accomplish this a conditioning unit maybe pivotally mounted beneath the main frame of the windrower, rearwardlyof the header. Since most headers are adapted to float over groundundulations, it is desirable to provide a mounting structure for theconditioning unit to allow it to undulate with the header such that thefront portion of the conditioning unit is always in close proximity tothe discharge opening of the header.

By maintaining the conditioning unit close to the header dischargeopening waste is averted as the rearward moving crop material is lesslikely to fall between the discharge opening and the conditioning unit.Also it is desirable to provide the conditioning unit with a mountingstructure that enables the conditioning unit to be raised to arelatively high position with respect to the ground when the header israised to its transport position.

To accomplish these two basic goals for mounting the conditioning unitit is desirable to provide a mounting structure that cooperates with theheader lift mechanism. One such reference teaching a mounting structurefor a conditioning unit that cooperates with the lift mechanism is thepatent to L. M. Halls et al., I]. S. Pat. No. 3,324,639. The Hallspatent shows a conditioning unit pivotally connected about a reartransverse axis to the main frame of a windrower and further including apair of springs resiliently connecting the front portion of theconditioner unit to a pair of upper lift arms of the lift mechanism.Therefore as the header floats, the springs tend to move theconditioning unit up and down in such a manner that the conditioningunit tends to stay relatively close to the discharge opening of theheader. By using a spring connection the movement of the conditioningunit is not necessarily proportional to the movement of the header and,in fact, the resilient nature of the springs tends to cause the headerunit to oscillate up and down, sometimes resulting in poor crop feedingto the conditioning unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Applicants invention is an improved mountingstructure for a conditioning unit to be mounted beneath the main frameof a windrower, rearwardly of a front pivotally mounted header. Theconditioning unit is pivotally mounted about a rear-transverse axis by apair of brackets depending downwardly from the main frame of thewindrower. The conditioning unit is further provided with a pair ofrollers, each roller rotatively mounted on a from outside portion of theconditioning unit and adapted to align and rest upon a pair of lowerlift arms or links that extend between the main frame of the windrowerand the header. Thus as the header floats up and down the lower lifilinks upon which the rollers move causes the conditioning unit to movein proportion to the movement of the header.

It is therefore the principle object of the present invention to providea mounting structure for a conditioning unit to be mounted beneath themain frame of a windrower with mounting means such that the conditioningunit moves in proportion to the movement of the windrower header as theheader moves over undulations in the ground.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the conditioningunit with a pair of rollers, each roller disposed on a front outsideportion of the conditioning unit and to provide a header lift mechanismwith a pair of guide rails adapted to support the rollers such thatmovement of the lift mechanism will result in proportional movement ofthe conditioning unit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide the header with acentrally disposed discharge opening having a floor plate pivotallyconnected about the lower portion thereof and extending rearwardlytherefrom and terminating in spaced apart relationship relative to thefront of the conditioning unit.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide the floorplate with a transverse bar which is fixed to the bottom of the floorplate and overlies and upper surface of the lower lift links of the liftmechanism such that the floor plate is articulated up and down inresponse to the movement of the lift links.

it is a particular object of the present invention to provide a pair ofguide rails inwardly disposed along the sides of the lower lift linksand adapted to support the rollers mounted on the front outside portionsof the conditioning unit.

It is another object of the present invention to provide the guide railswith an elevated cam surface spaced so as to engage the rollers when theheader is positioned in the transport position such that theconditioning unit is elevated to a desirable height above the ground.

A more particular object of the present invention is to provide the camsurface with a shape and configuration designed to support a substantialportion of the conditioners weight when the header is in the transportposition, thereby relieving a significant load and the forces associatedtherewith that would otherwise be borne by the rear mounting structure.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will becomeapparent and obvious from a study of the following description and theaccompanying drawings which are merely illustrative of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of awindrower haying a conditioning unit mounted therebeneath in accordancewith the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of a frontportion of the windrower, showing par ticularly the mounting structureof the conditioning unit.

FIG. 3 is a plan view taken through the line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a side fragmentary view showing the front support structurefor the conditioner mounting.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are schematic views illustrating the movement of theconditioning unit relative to the movement of the windrowers header.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawings,particularly FIG. 1, a windrower indicated by the numeral 10 is showntherein and includes a front pivotally mounted header 12. The windrower10 has a rectangular main frame 14 with a pair of laterally spaced rearcastor-type wheels 13 depending from the rear end thereof. Dependingfrom the front portion of the main frame 14 is a pair of laterallyspaced front wheel gear housings 15, each gear housing having a frontwheel 16 rotatively mounted on the outside thereof. The windrower 10further includes a power source 18 mounted about the rear thereof andhaving a main drive shaft 20 operatively connected to the forwardportion thereof and extending forwardly therefrom to a front mountedgearbox 22. Gearbox 22 is adapted to transfer the rotational torque ofthe power source 18 to a transversely extending jack shaft 62.

The header 12 includes a pair of vertical side sheets 24 and a floor 26(FIG. 3) extending laterally therebetween. Centrally disposed in a rearportion of floor 26 is a generally rectangular discharge opening 28. Aswill be subsequently described in greater detail the header is adaptedfor floatation, and to initiate such flotation the header 12 is providedwith a pair of ground engaging skid shoes 30 fixed to the lower outsideportions thereof. Rotatively mounted forwardly within the side sheets 24is a reel 32 adapted to engage the oncoming crop and sweep it rearwardlyover a transversely extending cutterbar assembly 38 spaced below thereel just above ground level G. The reel 32 is further provided with aseries of tines 34 laterally spaced about the periphery thereof.Disposed behind the reel is a transversely extending auger 36, the augerincluding first and second inwardly extending flight sections indicatedby the numerals 36a and 36b respectively. The auger is adapted toreceive the cut crop, consolidate it and discharge it into the dischargeopenin g 28.

Header I2 is pivotally mounted to the front portion of the windrowersmain frame 14 by a combination lift mechanism, best shown in FIG. 2. Thelift mechanism includes a pair of lower lift arms 40 laterally spacedapart and pivotally connected to a lower portion of the header andextending rearwardly therefrom to where they are pivotally connected toa pair of mounting brackets 17 which are fixed to the front wheel gearhousings l5. Continuing with particular reference to FIG. 2, a pair ofspaced apart plates indicated by the numeral 46 are fixed about eachside of the main frame 14 just above the front wheel gear housing 15.Pivotally connected between each pair of plates 46 is an upper lift arm44 which is pivotally mounted about a transverse axis 45. Each upperlift arm 44 is connected with a corresponding lower lift arm 40 by aconnecting link 42, each connecting link 42 being fixed about its lowerportion to a T-shaped bracket 41, which is pivotally connected to thelower lift link 40, and connected about its upper portion to the frontend of upper lift arm 44. The upper lift arms 44 are articulated up anddown by a pair of hydraulic cylinders 48, each cylinder having an anchorend 49 and a rod end 50. Each hydraulic cylinder 48 is anchored to abracket 19 which extends forwardly from a corresponding gear housing 15.The rod ends 50 of cylinders 48 are connected to front portions of theupper lift arms 44. Thus by extending the rod end 50 of each hydrauliccylinder 48, the upper lift arms 44 are moved upwardly, causing thelower lift arms to lift the header correspondingly.

To facilitate flotation, the lift system is provided with a series oftensioning springs connected between the lower lift arms 40 and themounting plates 46. In particular, each side of the header lift systemis provided with a pair of coil springs 52, each spring disposed on oneside of a connecting lift link 42 and extending from the T-shapedbracket 41 upwardly to a point near the lower edge of the mountingplates 46. The upper ends of the coil springs 52 are provided with abolt assembly 54 which extends upwardly and attaches to a transversebracket member 55. Therefore by adjusting the bolt assembly, thetensioning of the springs is varied, thereby providing differentflotation characteristics for the lift system.

The lift system is further provided with a stabilizing bar 56, thestabilizing bar being centrally located and extending between the mainframe 14 of the windrower l0 and an upper portion of the header 12.

Turning to FIG. 1 the conditioner drive and header drive is shownschematically therein. Specifically the longitudinal rotational torqueof the main drive shaft 20 is translated degrees by a gearbox 22 whichdrives a sheave 58 which in turn drives jack shaft 62 via a V-belt 59and main drive sheave 60. The jack shaft 62 has fixed thereon a pair oflaterally spaced sheaves 64,66. Sheave 64 drives a front mounted headerdrive sheave 68 which in turn drives a wobble drive via a PTO shaft 70.For a more unified understanding of the particular drive contemplatedfor the windrower of this invention, one is directed to us. Pat. No.3,577,716 which shows a split sickle bar arrangement having a pair ofdrives extending from a header drive sheave toward each side of theheader. Continuing with reference to FIG. 1, the sickle bar drive isthat commonly referred to as a wobble drive and includes a flywheel 72and a wobble shaft 74 extending outwardly therefrom. Mounted to thewobble shaft 74 is a yoke member 76 which is fixed to a downwardlyextending shaft 78 which is operatively connected to the cutterbarassembly 38 for reciprocating the same in a back and forth transversemanner.

The present disclosure is provided with a conditioning unit indicatedgenerally by the numeral 80, the conditioning unit being mounted betweenthe front wheels 16 in an underslung fashion beneath the main frame 14of the windrower 10. The conditioning unit shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4generally includes a top portion 82 and a pair of downwardly dependingsides 84. The rear of the conditioning unit is customarily provided witha deflector, not shown, which tends to fluff the rearwardly moving cropmaterial and deposit it in a windrow. The conditioning unit 80 isnormally mounted such that it is spaced in close proximity to thedischarge opening 28 of the header.

Rotatively mounted about the front portion of the conditioning unit 80is a pair of conditioning rolls indicated by numerals 86 and 92, theconditioning rolls being disposed one above the other in an intermeshedrelationship. The upper conditioning roll 86 is rotatively mounted in abearing assembly 88, the bearing as- Sembly being mounted in a pivot arm90 which is mounted to the conditioning unit for up and down pivotalmotion about a transverse axis 95. Attached to the rear lower portion ofthe pivot arm 90 is a spring link 94 which is in turn connected to atensioning spring 96 that is anchored to a lower rear portion of theconditioning unit.

Conditioning unit 80 is driven by sheave 66 which is fixed to an outerend of jack shaft 62. Sheave 66 is engaged with a belt 65 that drives anupper sheave 98 which in turn drives the upper conditioning roll 86.Also the upper drive sheave 98 is adapted to drive a gearbox 100 whichin turn reverses the direction of rotation and drives the lowerconditioning roll 92 via a lower drive sheave 102.

The conditioning unit 80 is pivotally mounted in an underslung fashionbeneath the windrowers main frame 14 by a mounting structure that iscooperative with the lift system of the header such that theconditioning unit moves in response to the movement of the header. inparticular, the conditioning unit 80 is pivotally mounted about atransverse axis 106 by a pair of laterally spaced rear mounting brackets104 which are fixed to the main frame of the windrower and dependdownwardly therefrom where they are pivotally connected to a rearportion of the conditioner unit 80. This rear mounting structure isreinforced by a pair of braces 108, each fixed to a side 84 of theconditioning unit and extending rearwardly therefrom towards the rearwhere they support the rear transverse pivot axis 106. Each of the lowerlift arms 40 is provided with a guide rail 110 which is formed along aninner side thereof and extends therealong for supporting a roller 114which is rotatively mounted about a front outside portion of theconditioning unit by a mounting bracket 116. A cam surface 1 l l isprovided about the forward end of the inner guide rails and particularlyspaced such that as the lower lift arms 40 are elevated to raise theheader to the transport position as shown in FIG. 5 the rollers 114 willmove up the cam surface 111 and lift and conditioning unit to anelevation substantially above the ground G, thereby providingsubstantial clearance such that the windrower can be driven without agreat risk of the conditioning unit engaging obstructions or foreignobjects lying in its path. It is noted that the cam surface 111 is of aninverted V- shape and once the rollers 114 move forward past the apexthereof a substantial portion of the conditioners weight is supported bythe cam surface.

To provide a crop support for the cut crop moving between the header andthe conditioning unit 80, a floor plate extension 118 is pivotallymounted at 120 to the lower portion of the discharge opening 28. The

floor plate extension extends rearwardly from its pivot axis 120 andterminates in spaced apart relationship relative to the lowerconditioning roll, the space between the rear terminal edge of the floorplate extension and the conditioning roll serving as a stone trap or atrap for other foreign objects that may be caught-up in the crop as itmoves rearwardly towards the conditioning unit. Fixed to the lower rearportion of the floor plate extension is a transverse rod 122. Thetransverse rod 122 extends over the lower lift arms 40 and is slidabletherealong as the lower lift arms 40 move up and down due to flotationof the header. Thus as the header l2 floats the lower lift arms 40 causethe floor plate extension 118 to move up and down in increments thatcorrespond closely with the up and down movement of the conditioningunit 80.

In operation the cutterbar 38 cuts the oncoming crop as the windrower 10moves through the field. The cut crop is swept rearwardly to the auger36 by the reel 32. Then the cut crop is consolidated by the augertowards the central discharge opening 28 where the crop is propelledrearwardly therethrough over the floor plate extension 118 and onthrough the conditioning rolls 86,92 where the cut crop is conditionedand deposited in a windrow. As the header floats up and down andsideways over undulations within the ground G, the lift arms 40 move upand down and are in fact spring biased to move up by each pair of coilsprings 52 which extend adjacent the connecting lift link 44. As thelift arms move up and down the rollers 114 ride up and down the innerguide rails 110, thereby raising and lowering the conditioning unit inproportion to the movement of the header. This maintains the frontportion of the conditioning unit 80 in close proximity to the headerdischarge opening 28 and allows the conditioning unit to receivesubstantially all the crop moving through the discharge opening withoutsignificant amounts falling between the conditioning unit and floorplate extension onto the ground.

Once the cutting operation is completed and the windrower 10 is madeready to move to a new location the hydraulic cylinder is extended suchthat the lift arms 40 lift the header 12 up to its transport position.With reference to FIG. 5, it is seen that as the lower lift arms 40 moveupward to bring the header into the transport position, as shown indotted lines therein, the rollers 114 engage the cam surface causing theconditioning unit to move upwardly until the top thereof is in closeproximity to the main frame 14 at which time the rollers 114 are forwardof the cam apex. Therefore the conditioning unit is raised quickly andprecisely to an upper optimum elevated position for transport. Theinverted U-shaped cam supports and stabilizes the conditioning unit 80while in transport thereby minimizing the load applied to the rearattaching axis 106.

When disconnecting the conditioning unit 80 from the windrower 10, theconditioning unit should be placed on a pallet or some other suitableelevated means such as blocks. To attach the conditioning unit 80, thelower lift arms 40 are raised and the windrower is backed over theelevated conditioning unit. Once rollers 114 come into engagement withthe lift anns 40, the lift arms are lowered and the windrower 10 isfurther backed until the rear pivot axis 106 of the conditioning unit isproperly aligned for attachment to the rear mounting brackets 104. Afteralignment is reached the rear of the conditioning unit is elevatedmanually or by a jack and the rear mounting brackets 104 are connectedto the pivot axis 106.

The terms, upper," lower," forward," rearward" etc. have been usedherein merely for the convenience of the foregoing specification and inthe appended claims to describe the conditioner mounting structure andits parts as oriented in the drawings. it is to be understood, however,that these terms are in no way limiting to the invention since theconditioning unit may obviously be disposed in various positions when inactual use.

The present invention, of course, may be carried out in other specificways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit andessential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are,therefore. to be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalencyrange are intended to be embraced herein.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim 1S:

1. A crop harvesting machine, comprising in combination: a wheelsupported main frame; a header pivotally mounted and supported forwardlyof said main frame by a linkage combination including a pair oflaterally spaced header lift links extending between said header andsaid main frame and pivotally connected to each; a pair of guide rails,each disposed inwardly on one of the lift links and extendinglongitudinally therewith; a conditioning unit, having a pair ofconditioning rolls rotatively mounted forwardly therein, mounted inunderslung fashion beneath said main frame, rearwardly of a dischargeopening in said header, said conditioning unit being pivotally mountedabout the rear thereof by a pair of laterally spaced bracket membersdepending from said main frame, said conditioning unit further includinga pair of rollers, one roller mounted on each forward side of theconditioning unit and laterally spaced, aligned with and resting uponthe upper surface of said guide rails such that the conditioning unitmoves in correspondence with the movement of said header and lift links.

2. In a crop harvesting machine having a wheel supported main frame, alift linkage mechanism mounted forwardly of said main frame andincluding a pair of laterally spaced lift arms pivotally connected tosaid main frame and extending forwardly therefrom, a header supported bysaid lift mechanism and including a transversely extending reelrotatively mounted therein, cutting means spaced below said reel forcutting the oncoming crop, a discharge opening formed in a rear centralportion of the header and having a floor plate extending rearwardly froma lower portion thereof, an auger spaced rearwardly of the reel andadapted to convey the crop material inwardly towards the dischargeopening, and a conditioning unit mounted in an underslung fashionbeneath said main frame, said conditioning unit including a pair ofconditioning rolls spaced in close proximity to the discharge openingfor receiving crop material therefrom, the improvement comprising: amounting structure for mounting said conditioning unit to said mainframe iilefii5%358P$r%ll%di$3of3 $3%i2 structure including a pair oflaterally spaced bracket members depending downwardly from said mainframe and pivotally connected to the rear outer portion of saidconditioning unit, guide rails formed along said lift am, and a pair ofrollers each rotatively mounted on an outer front portion of saidconditioning unit, said rollers being aligned with said guide rails andadapted to move therealong as said header moves up and down.

3. The harvesting device as recited in claim 2 wherein the improvementfurther comprises a transversely extending bar fixed to a rear portionof said floor plate and extending over said lift arms and slideabletherealong as said lift arms move up and down with said header.

4. The harvesting device as recited in claim 2 wherein said guide railsinclude inverted V-shaped cam surfaces disposed along a forward portionthereof, said cam surfaces being particularly spaced to engage saidrollers when said header is raised to a transport position.

5. A harvesting device comprising in combination: a wheel supported mainframe; a lift mechanism mounted forwardly of said main frame andincluding a pair of laterally spaced lift arms; a header supported bysaid lift mechanism; and a conditioning unit pivotally mounted about therear thereof to said main frame and including front moveable supportmeans for moving fore-and-aft along said lift arms such that the frontportion of the conditioning unit moves up and down in proportion to themovement of said lift arms and header.

6. The harvesting device as recited in claim 5 wherein said frontmoveable support means includes a pair of laterally spaced rotativelymounted rollers which extend from each side of the conditioning unit andwhich are aligned to engage and rest upon said lift arms.

7. A harvesting device as recited in claim 5 wherein guide rails areprovided adjacent each lift arm and adapted to support said frontmoveable support means.

8. A harvesting device as recited in claim 5 wherein each of said liftarms are provided with an elevated cam surface particularly spacedthereon to engage said from support means of said conditioning unit whensaid header is raised to a transport position such that saidconditioning unit is raised to a relatively high position by theengagement of said cam surfaces with said front support means.

9. A harvesting device as recited in claim 8 wherein said cam surfacesare of an inverted V-shape and wherein said front moveable support meansincludes a pair of rollers rotatively mounted on front portions of saidconditioning unit and laterally spaced thereon so as to engage saidinverted V-shaped cam surfaces when said header is raised to a transportposition.

II It III I l

1. A crop harvesting machine, comprising in combination: a wheelsupported main frame; a header pivotally mounted and supported forwardlyof said main frame by a linkage combination including a pair oflaterally spaced header lift links extending between said header andsaid main frame and pivotally connected to each; a pair of guide rails,each disposed inwardly on one of the lift links and extendinglongitudinally therewith; a conditioning unit, having a pair ofconditioning rolls rotatively mounted forwardly therein, mounted inunderslung fashion beneath said main frame, rearwardly of a dischargeopening in said header, said conditioning unit being pivotally mountedabout the rear thereof by a pair of laterally spaced bracket membersdepending from said main frame, said conditioning unit further includinga pair of rollers, one roller mounted on each forward side of theconditioning unit and laterally spaced, aligned with and resting uponthe upper surface of said guide rails such that the conditioning unitmoves in correspondence with the movement of said header and lift links.2. In a crop harvesting machine having a wheel supported main frame, alift linkage mechanism mounted forwardly of said main frame andincluding a pair of laterally spaced lift arms pivotally connected tosaid main frame and extending forwardly therefrom, a header supported bysaid lift mechanism and including a transversely extending reelrotatively mounted therein, cutting means spaced below said reel forcutting the oncoming crop, a discharge opening formed in a rear centralportion of the header and having a floor plate extending rearwardly froma lower portion thereof, an auger spaced rearwardly of the reel andadapted to convey the crop material inwardly towards the dischargeopening, and a conditioning unit mounted in an underslung fashionbeneath said main frame, said conditioning uniT including a pair ofconditioning rolls spaced in close proximity to the discharge openingfor receiving crop material therefrom, the improvement comprising: amounting structure for mounting said conditioning unit to said mainframe such that said conditioning unit moves in proportion to themovement of said header, said improved mounting structure including apair of laterally spaced bracket members depending downwardly from saidmain frame and pivotally connected to the rear outer portion of saidconditioning unit, guide rails formed along said lift arms, and a pairof rollers each rotatively mounted on an outer front portion of saidconditioning unit, said rollers being aligned with said guide rails andadapted to move therealong as said header moves up and down.
 3. Theharvesting device as recited in claim 2 wherein the improvement furthercomprises a transversely extending bar fixed to a rear portion of saidfloor plate and extending over said lift arms and slideable therealongas said lift arms move up and down with said header.
 4. The harvestingdevice as recited in claim 2 wherein said guide rails include invertedV-shaped cam surfaces disposed along a forward portion thereof, said camsurfaces being particularly spaced to engage said rollers when saidheader is raised to a transport position.
 5. A harvesting devicecomprising in combination: a wheel supported main frame; a liftmechanism mounted forwardly of said main frame and including a pair oflaterally spaced lift arms; a header supported by said lift mechanism;and a conditioning unit pivotally mounted about the rear thereof to saidmain frame and including front moveable support means for movingfore-and-aft along said lift arms such that the front portion of theconditioning unit moves up and down in proportion to the movement ofsaid lift arms and header.
 6. The harvesting device as recited in claim5 wherein said front moveable support means includes a pair of laterallyspaced rotatively mounted rollers which extend from each side of theconditioning unit and which are aligned to engage and rest upon saidlift arms.
 7. A harvesting device as recited in claim 5 wherein guiderails are provided adjacent each lift arm and adapted to support saidfront moveable support means.
 8. A harvesting device as recited in claim5 wherein each of said lift arms are provided with an elevated camsurface particularly spaced thereon to engage said front support meansof said conditioning unit when said header is raised to a transportposition such that said conditioning unit is raised to a relatively highposition by the engagement of said cam surfaces with said front supportmeans.
 9. A harvesting device as recited in claim 8 wherein said camsurfaces are of an inverted V-shape and wherein said front moveablesupport means includes a pair of rollers rotatively mounted on frontportions of said conditioning unit and laterally spaced thereon so as toengage said inverted V-shaped cam surfaces when said header is raised toa transport position.